Ezekiel 16:44
Ezekiel 16:44 in Multiple Translations
Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’
¶ Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
See, in every common saying about you it will be said, As the mother is, so is her daughter.
Everyone who likes to use proverbs will quote this one about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’
Beholde, all that vse prouerbes, shall vse this prouerbe against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Lo, every one using a simile, Doth use a simile concerning thee, saying: As the mother — her daughter!
“‘“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you, saying, ‘As is the mother, so is her daughter.’
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Behold every one that useth a common proverb, shall use this against thee, saying: As the mother was, so also is her daughter.
People who like to quote proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Daughtersbehave like their mothers behave.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 16:44
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 16:44 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִנֵּה֙
כָּל
הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֔ל
עָלַ֥יִ/ךְ
יִמְשֹׁ֖ל
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
כְּ/אִמָּ֖/ה
בִּתָּֽ/הּ
הִנֵּה֙
hinnêh
H2009
behold
Part
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֔ל
mâshal
H4911
to liken
Art | V-Qal
עָלַ֥יִ/ךְ
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
יִמְשֹׁ֖ל
mâshal
H4911
to liken
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
כְּ/אִמָּ֖/ה
ʼêm
H517
mother
Prep | N-fs | Suff
בִּתָּֽ/הּ
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 16:44
הִנֵּה֙
hinnêh
H2009
"behold"
Part
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Definition: behold, lo, see, if
Usage: Occurs in 799 OT verses. KJV: behold, lo, see. See also: Genesis 1:29; Genesis 42:35; Deuteronomy 19:18.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ/מֹּשֵׁ֔ל
mâshal
H4911
"to liken"
Art | V-Qal
To use a proverb means to speak in a way that teaches a lesson, often using metaphors or poems, as seen in Jesus' parables in the Gospels. This word is about comparing things to make a point. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to represent, liken, be like 1a) (Niphal) to liken, be like, be similar 1b) (Hiphil) to compare 1c) (Hithpael) to become like
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: be(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter. See also: Numbers 21:27; Isaiah 46:5; Psalms 28:1.
עָלַ֥יִ/ךְ
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
יִמְשֹׁ֖ל
mâshal
H4911
"to liken"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To use a proverb means to speak in a way that teaches a lesson, often using metaphors or poems, as seen in Jesus' parables in the Gospels. This word is about comparing things to make a point. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to represent, liken, be like 1a) (Niphal) to liken, be like, be similar 1b) (Hiphil) to compare 1c) (Hithpael) to become like
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: be(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter. See also: Numbers 21:27; Isaiah 46:5; Psalms 28:1.
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
כְּ/אִמָּ֖/ה
ʼêm
H517
"mother"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Definition: 1) mother 1a) of humans 1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) 1c) of animals 2) point of departure or division
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: dam, mother, [idiom] parting. See also: Genesis 2:24; 2 Kings 4:19; Psalms 22:10.
בִּתָּֽ/הּ
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 16:44
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 16:44 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 16:44
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 16:44
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 16:44
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 16:44
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
- Sermons on Ezekiel 16:44
Context — Judgment on Jerusalem
42So I will lay to rest My wrath against you, and My jealousy will turn away from you. Then I will be calm and no longer angry.
43Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but enraged Me with all these things, I will surely bring your deeds down upon your own head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed this lewdness on top of all your other abominations?
44Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’
45You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 18:2–3 | “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. |
| 2 | Psalms 106:35–38 | but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood— the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 24:13 | As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 16:3 | and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. |
| 5 | Ezra 9:1 | After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 16:45 | You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. |
| 7 | 1 Kings 21:16 | And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. |
| 8 | 2 Kings 17:15 | They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and themselves became worthless, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. |
| 9 | 2 Kings 17:11 | They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. |
| 10 | 2 Kings 21:9 | But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. |
Ezekiel 16:44 Summary
The verse Ezekiel 16:44 is saying that the city of Jerusalem is just like her ancestors - she has followed in their footsteps and repeated their sins. This is a warning to Jerusalem that she needs to change her ways and turn back to God, just like the Lord calls His people to do in Hosea 14:1-2. The idea that 'like mother, like daughter' reminds us that our actions have consequences and can impact those around us, and we should strive to create a positive and godly legacy for ourselves and our loved ones, as seen in Proverbs 22:6. By remembering and learning from the past, we can seek the Lord's guidance and correction, and work to break free from sinful patterns in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the proverb 'Like mother, like daughter' mean in Ezekiel 16:44?
This proverb suggests that the daughter (Jerusalem) has followed in the footsteps of her mother (the ancestral line of sinners), echoing the sinful patterns of her family, as seen in Ezekiel 16:45, which mentions the daughter's mother being a Hittite and her father an Amorite, and also in Jeremiah 2:5, where the Lord says the people followed in the ways of their fathers.
Is this verse saying that children are destined to follow in the sins of their parents?
No, the Bible teaches that each person is responsible for their own sins, as seen in Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20, where it says the son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, but rather each person is accountable for their own actions, and this verse in Ezekiel 16:44 is highlighting the repetition of sinful patterns in Jerusalem's history.
What is the purpose of quoting this proverb about Jerusalem?
The purpose is to convey that Jerusalem's sins are a continuation of a long line of rebellious and idolatrous behavior, as seen in Ezekiel 16:43, where the Lord says He will bring Jerusalem's deeds down upon her own head, and also in Isaiah 1:4, which laments the sinful state of the people of Judah, and this proverb serves as a warning and a call to repentance.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger condemnation of Jerusalem's sins, as seen in Ezekiel 16:42-43, where the Lord expresses His wrath and jealousy towards the city, and also in Ezekiel 16:45-46, which explains the mother-daughter relationship between Jerusalem and other sinful cities like Samaria and Sodom, highlighting Jerusalem's place in a long line of sinful cities.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I may be following in the sinful patterns of my family or cultural background, and how can I break free from those patterns through the power of the Gospel?
- How does the idea that 'like mother, like daughter' applies to my own life and relationships, and what can I do to create a more positive and godly legacy for those around me?
- In what ways can I use the wisdom of this proverb to examine my own heart and actions, and to seek the Lord's guidance and correction in my life?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of remembering and learning from the past, and how can I apply those lessons to my own life and decisions?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 16:44
Behold, everyone that useth proverbs,.... That affects a proverbial way of sneaking that is witty and facetious, and has a talent at satirizing and scoffing, as some have had; such were Lucian and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 16:44
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
That useth proverbs; that delights to make parables, and useth to taunt at the vices of notorious sinners. Shall use this proverb against thee: this might be read with the former phrase, and render us this sense, Every one that would speak against thee, O Jerusalem, and tartly upbraid thee, shall use this proverb. The mother; old Jerusalem, when the seat of the Jebusites; or the land of Canaan, when full of the idolatrous, bloody, barbarous nations. Her daughter; Jerusalem, or synagogue of the Jews, which is more like in the wickednesses of those accursed nations, than near them in places of abode. See more .
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
Ezekiel 16:44 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use [this] proverb against thee, saying, As [is] the mother, [so is] her daughter.Ver. 44. Behold, every one that useth proverbs.] Omnis paraemiator paraemiabit. That is skilful at, and exercised in gibing and jeering; as was Socrates - called therefore ο Sκωπτων, the Scoffer - Democritus, Lucian, Sir Thomas Moore, Erasmus, &c. Shall use this proverb.] This taunting proverb. As is the mother, so is her daughter.] The birth followeth the belly. Kακουκορακοςκακονωον. Ill birds lay ill eggs. Qualis hera, talis ancilla, &c.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
(44) As is the mother.—The sin of the people had become so notorious as to attract general attention, and lead to the application of this proverb. The nativity of Israel described in Ezekiel 16:3 is here in mind, and the proverb becomes equivalent to saying, these sins belong to every people living in Canaan; once practised by the Amorites and Hittites, they are now continued by the Israelites.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
Verse 44. As is the mother, so is her daughter.] כאמה בתה keimmah bittah, "As the mother, her daughter." As is the cause, so is the effect. As is the breeding, so is the practice. A silken purse cannot be made out of a swine's ear. What is bred in the bone seldom comes out of the flesh. All such proverbs show the necessity of early holy precepts, supported by suitable example.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 16:44
44. A taunting proverb in regard to Jerusalem, the adulteress and child-murderer: she is the true daughter of her mother the Canaanite. The proverb or saying is probably to be restricted to the words: “As is her mother, so is her daughter.” In Ezekiel 16:45 seq. the prophet speaks and addresses Jerusalem.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 16:44
The Jews prided themselves on being under the special protection of Yahweh. In the downfall of their neighbors, they found only additional grounds for confidence in their own security.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:44
’S AND — THE ADOPTED CHILD-WIFE, Ezekiel 16:1-43.In chaps. 13-15 the prophet has shown how untrustworthy are all the Israelitish hopes that punishment will not fall upon them for their sins.
Sermons on Ezekiel 16:44
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Our Children by Keith Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the importance of loving and respecting one's spouse, highlighting the sacrificial love husbands should have for their wives, the need for wives to submit to |
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Breaking the Bondage of an Ungodly Heritage by Don Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the concept of breaking the chains of an ungodly heritage. He criticizes the idea that individuals are not personally responsible for their ac |
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Sour Grapes by Chuck Smith | This sermon focuses on the importance of personal responsibility before God, emphasizing the need for individuals to acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness directly from God. |
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Jesus Came to Save That Which Was Lost - Part 2 by Joshua Daniel | This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the power of Jesus Christ to deliver from sin and restore brokenness, highlighting the importance of sharing the gospel with love and compas |
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Of the Imputation of Adam's Sin to All His Posterity. by John Gill | John Gill expounds on the doctrine of the imputation of Adam's sin to all humanity, emphasizing that through Adam's disobedience, all his descendants are made sinners. He clarifies |
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The Lord's Prayer by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson expounds on 'The Lord's Prayer,' particularly the petition 'Deliver us from evil,' emphasizing the need for divine protection from the evils of the world, our own hea |
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Through the Bible - 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the book of Chronicles, specifically the first nine chapters. The speaker mentions that these chapters provide a list of people who were take |